Four Winns V378 (2009-)

Brief Summary

Four Winns continues to impress with their V series. Case in point, the V378 has enough features to practically turn this weekender into a live-aboard. A quick look at the options list shows very few items as the standards take up the bulk of the room. Couple that with the sheer volume of space on this boat and we have a winner on our hands. But just to make sure we sent Capt. Steve to give his critical eye the once over and report back to us.

Specifications

Length Overall	41' 3'' / 12.57 m
Beam	12' 9'' 3.89 m
Dry Weight	20,200 lbs. 9,160 kg
Draft	42'' 107 cm
Deadrise/Transom	19 deg.
Max Headroom	6' 5'' 1.96 m
Bridge Clearance	11' 6'' 3.51 m
Fuel Capacity	300 gal. 1,136 L
Water Capacity	66 gal. 250 L

Engine Options

Tested Engine	Currently no test numbers
Std. Power	2 x 400-hp Volvo Penta IPS550G (gas)
Opt. Power	2 x 370-hp Volvo Penta IPS500

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Capt. Steve Says…

I don’t really complain that much… do I? Well perhaps, but that’s because so many builders keep missing the target. Four Winns, however, seems to be one of the few that have a grasp on the realities of boating and rather than leave room for error, they tend to be on the opposite end of the spectrum and try to see how innovative they can be with their brand of outside the box thinking. So it was with a bit of excitement, rather than pessimism, that I stepped aboard the all new V378.

The cockpit layout…

The cockpit layout isn’t new from Four Winns, but it’s still an innovative layout that you don’t see in a typical express cruiser. Realizing that when the boat is underway, the main attraction is at the helm, Four Winns has taken the port side lounger and slid it to the center of the boat, next to the helm and companion seating. To me this is brilliant, as my guests will all be within earshot while I’m at the controls. To get below deck, you have to walk behind the port lounge. This has a slight drawback, in that getting to the bow via the windshield walkthrough, will require the occupants in the lounge seat to either get up and out of the way, or curl their legs up to let people pass through the narrow walkway. Since this won’t exactly be a busy thoroughfare, that’s a pretty reasonable tradeoff. Stepping down to the aft cockpit, we have a roomy gathering area, laid out in typical fashion with the U-shaped lounge to starboard and over to port, an entertainment center with a blender, sink, and surprise… a refrigerator AND (not or) an icemaker. The flat screen seems to be a required option in the cockpit nowadays, but why have a TV with this scenery?

Helm…

There’s a lot to like at the helm, and I have to say that nearly all my usual complaints are addressed here. The nav display is to port so the companion can handle the “where are we” chore. My complaint about no place to put “stuff” is taken care of. There’s storage under the seats, and convenient storage for cell phones and glasses in the armrest. I love the side window vents. They’re hinged at the back so they open out from the front, scooping gobs of air into the helm area. I’d like to see the ignitions over to starboard, under the engine controls, so that they’d be out of “knee” range. Twin helm seats with separate bolsters are a plus.

Going down…

Down below, the roominess continues. I love how the galley has two refrigerators with the option for converting the second to a freezer, and that’s about the only option you have here. Everything else is standard, a 16,000 BTU air conditioner, the central vac, telephone jacks. The mid cabin has a second settee that easily, and electrically, converts to a berth.

Specifications…

The Four Winns V378 has a LOA of 41'3" / 12.57 m, a beam of 12'9" / 3.89 m, and her draft is 42" / 107 cm. She weighs approximately 20,200-20,800 lbs. / 9,160-9,440 kg depending on engine choice, which by the way, is narrowed down to two… twin gas 400-hp Volvo 550Gs (standard), or twin 370-hp Volvo IPS500 diesels (add $24,776). She holds 300 gal. / 1136 L of fuel, and 66 gal. / 250 L gallons of water.
We plan on testing this model soon for performance and range numbers, but for now, it’s easy to see that this Four Winns V378 is a boat that leaves you wanting for little else than a full tank to take you where you want to go. Her base price is $434,800, and considering her long list of standard features, that’s reasonable. You should see that this boat makes your short list, and then take a personal tour.